Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘The Funhouse’

Written by Scott Edwards

​Sometimes the normal things that you do to relax are not enough and you need to look for something else to do. Going to an amusement park is something that lots of people like to do because they have rides that will make you scream your head off, but if you are looking for something else that can do that, look for a carnival. Even though it has been ages since I have been to one of these traveling shows, I do remember seeing the multi-headed animals more than once and just being fascinated by them. While the rides all have different names as the shows are all different, they all have scares and clowns inside, which is frightening to me. Carnivals are just for a different breed of people, but if you are willing to give it a shot when one comes to town, you will not be disappointed. 
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Lying to her parents about her plans for the night, Amy is going to go to the carnival with her new boyfriend Buzz who has finally asked her out. Stopping to pick up their friends Liz and Richie, the group is heading out for a night that they will never forget. Staying away from the adult orientated attractions, the group is having a great time, but have no idea that Amy’s little brother has snuck out to keep an eye on them and experience the carnival for himself as well. 

Taking notice of everyone at the show, the group takes a long look at one of the ride operators and sees that he must be a little slow. Wearing a Frankenstein mask to protect his face from the outside world, he must have a story to tell, but the kids want nothing to do with it. Checking out most of the show, the night is starting to close in, and the group must come up with a plan of what to do next. Richie has a great idea for the night, to sneak off during the funhouse ride and stay there overnight. With no objections and Amy looking to go all the way with Buzz, it seems like the right thing for them to do.

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​With the show being shut down for the night, Amy and Buzz, along with Liz and Richie are making out when they hear a startling slam in the distance. Trying to find out what it is, they see that they are directly over an office area that lights up when the Frankenstein operator enters. Seeing a familiar face with him as the psychic Madame Zena enters, they are about to be privy to see something not many people have witnessed. As the mask wearing individual puts his money down for the older woman to service him, it is apparent that he is too excited and pops off very quickly. Not willing to give him the money back, Madame Zena witnesses the wrath that he has inside of him as he chokes the life out of her. 
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Seeing a murder firsthand, the group wants to get out of the funhouse as quickly as possible. But there is a major problem in doing so, as all of the doors to the ride are locked up for the night. Trying to stay one step ahead of the killer and now the manager who is trying to cover up the murder, they are discovered and told to come on down. Knowing that they will meet the same fate as the psychic if they do, they try to find any other way to escape, but the bad news is that they are out matched by the two carnies that call the ride their home. As traps are set and used throughout the ride, the killing can be handled remotely, as they have control of everything that the trespassers will see and hear. Picking off the kids one by one, it will be a long night for anyone that is able to survive.

As far as a carnival slasher film goes, this one is pretty darn good, and I can say that about most of the horror movies that came out in the eighties. There is something about this genre that just sits well with me and that has not changed over the years as I guess it would be fun to stay in a carnival overnight without anyone knowing. I guess I was supposed to feel bad for the kids while they were trapped in the ride, but they broke the rules, so I do not see a reason not to punish them, especially since they badmouthed the mask wearing kid. I liked the reveal of the mask wearing kid and instead of making him out to be a sob story, he was made to be a monster, which was pretty cool and something that the director has been known to do with his characters. With plenty of blood, side show oddities, young lovers, a kid that goes catatonic and a monster that will stop at nothing to please his father, it is just a good ride overall. I have never seen the inside workings of a carnival ride before, but if it is anything like what was shown here, I never want to and will just stay away from it altogether. Stay Scared.

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